Maruti Suzuki Dzire Review

SUVs are ruling the roost across segments. However, there is one exception and that is the Dzire, which still manages to outshine many compact SUVs and even some hatchbacks. The car has been a consistent seller for over a decade and despite the onslaught of SUVs over the past few years, its retail numbers have been consistent between 160,000 to 180,000 units per year. Maruti Suzuki knows this and has now launched the fourth gen Dzire to appeal to a broader audience.

The Dzire looks very different to the Swift, with which it shares its platform. The car gets a very unique face with a bold and big grille augmented by the large rectangular headlamps that have LEDs in them. The lower part of the bumper gets fog lamps housing and a very sculpted design. The side profile will remind you of the older gen car but the rear end is all new. Some buyers might feel the tail lamps are tiny but they look stylish and work well with the overall silhouette of the car. Many comments on YouTube videos think the Dzire mimics the looks of the last gen Audi A4. While there are some similar looking design elements, it would be grossly inaccurate to say so.

Maruti Suzuki are the masters of cost efficiency and it shows with the Dzire. You get the same power window buttons that have been doing duty on a range of Maruti Suzuki cars for the past decade or so and you get the same interiors as the Swift. That said however the colour scheme has been changed completely. The Dzire gets beige and cream interiors instead of black like the Swift.

But there are a few notable extras over the Swift. You get a sunroof, which is a segment first and you also get a 360-degree camera, another segment first. Auto headlamps and automatic climate control are other notable extras as are the six airbags from the base version. This helps the Dzire become a safer car than before. Global NCAP tests reveal a full 5-star crash test safety rating, making it the safest compact sedan and also safer than most compact SUVs, who will compete with it on price.

The rear seats offer the same level of space as the Swift and you also get a central arm rest. Maruti says they will not offer this Dzire in the fleet market for which the last gen car will do.

The boot at 382 litres is also marginally larger than the last version.

The 1.2L engine now gets a 3-cylinder head rather than a 4-cylinder. Vibrations are visible as you rev and the engine also sounds more audible as speeds build. The plus side is the fuel economy which at 24 kmpl plus is simply outstanding. The CNG version should deliver around 34 kmpl.

The engine has been tuned for low speed responsiveness that makes it a cinch for driving in town traffic. The low end torque is good and the motor pulls reasonably well from low rpms making it a good car for town travel. The other big positive is the slick gearbox. The unit shifts with absolute precision and also has a light and sporty throw. The springy clutch also makes it enjoyable to drive.

You can also choose an AMT-automatic but the shifts are slow and this unit isn’t the most responsive in the world taking about a second to shift when driven in manual mode. Still if you want a hassle free experience this is a good choice.

The steering wheel feels ultra light on the Dzire but has decent feedback. This Dzire is tuned more for comfort so you can’t expect it to be a fun filled engaging car for the enthusiast. For that, you will have to buy the Swift. Ride comfort is good and overall the ride remains planted as speeds increase.

Price starts from Rs 6.79 lakh (ex-showroom), which makes it a decent value and also undercuts most compact SUVs which will be its direct competition in today's SUV-crazed world. The Dzire offers you a good safety record and also offers good space. It might be boring to drive but with the stellar fuel economy you get, you will be willing to forgive that.